Upcoming
Events
Tuesday, Feb 17th • 7:00 PM • Virtual
The Morris Canal: An Illustrated History
Presented by Tim Roth
On Tuesday, February 17th, the Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site will be hosting the Canal Society of New Jersey for a virtual program on the Morris Canal.
The Canal Society’s Tim Roth will explore the history of the canal, from its inception in the 1820s to its abandonment 100 years later.
Learn about the technology used to overcome 1,674 feet in elevation, how boats navigated along the waterway, and what life was like for the people who lived and worked along the canal.
No registration is required. All Canal Society members and supporters are invited to attend!
Details: Tuesday, Feb 17th • 7:00 PM • Virtual
Virtual Meeting Login • Microsoft Teams:
Meeting ID: 279 632 435 844 5
Password: Yk2GN96v
Saturday, March 14th | 10:00 AM
D&R Canal Walks / Bike Rides
Bike Ride: Griggstown to Kingston, 10 Miles Roundtrip
Enjoy a scenic and historic bike ride along the flat and level D&R Canal towpath. Along the way, there will be stops at locks to learn how boats navigated from one level to another, and at spillways, to learn about canal water management. At Kingston, we will be allowed access to the lock tender’s house, where docents from the Kingston Historical Society will tell us about the history of the area (restroom available at house).
Meet Saturday, March 14th at 10am at the parking area at Kingston Causeway, halfway between River Road and Canal Road
**** Bike helmets are required****
To register for this walk, contact Tim Roth at: timroth@comcast.net
This event is hosted by the D&R Canal Watch: www.canalwatch.org
2026 Program Meetings
Friday, March 20th, 2026 | Doors Open at 6:30 PM · Program at 7:00 PM
“The Morris Canal in Jersey City: Past, Present, Future”
Presented by Steve Krinsky
35 Waterview Boulevard, Parsippany, NJ
Download Program Flyer (PDF)
Friday, May 15th, 2026
Presented by Bill McKelvey
Location along the D&R Canal · Venue TBD
Friday, September 18th, 2026
Presented by Linda Barth
35 Waterview Boulevard, Parsippany, NJ
Friday, November 20th, 2026
Speaker & Details Coming Soon
Saturday, May 16th, 2026
Lake Hopatcong Block Party
Hopatcong State Park
The Lake Hopatcong Block Party celebrates all facets of Lake Hopatcong life by bringing visitors together with businesses, non-profit organizations, community groups, crafters, and food vendors for a community day like no other featuring activities, raffles, giveaways, a children’s scavenger hunt, and more.
June 17th & 18th, 2026
New Jersey History & Historic Preservation Conference
EVENT DETAILS COMING SOON
Join us June 17th & 18th, 2026 for the New Jersey History & Historic Preservation Conference, St. Elizabeth University, Morristown NJ. Event details coming soon.
June 27th, 2026
Waterloo Village Canal Day & 250th Celebration of America
EVENT DETAILS COMING SOON
Join us June 27th, 2026 for the Waterloo Village Canal Day & 250th Celebration of America! Event details coming soon.
More Events
Saturday, March 14th 10:00 a.m.
History Bike Ride, Griggstown Causeway to Kingston, 10 miles roundtrip on the D&R Canal towpath. Explore the structures along the D&R Canal with Canal Watch trustee Tim Roth. Meet in the causeway parking lot in Griggstown. Bring water; helmet required. Allow three hours. Leader: Tim Roth, timroth@comcast.net, 973-222-0586
Saturday, March 28th Geology hike, 10:00 a.m.
Meet at the Bordentown Light Rail Station, West Park Street. A walk and talk on the transition between the D&R Canal and the C&A Railroad. The C&A RR was up and running in 1832 between Bordentown and South Amboy. The D&R canal was in operation in 1834 as was the full length of the C&A RR. In 1837 the C&A RR built the Trenton Branch along the east side of the D&R Canal. The D&R and the C&A built a bridge over Crosswicks Creek so workers and others could walk between the two transportation methods. We have just completed replicas of the railroad tracks of the C&A RR in a small park at the light rail station in Bordentown. Starting at the Light Rail Station, we will discuss the C&A RR and then continue the walk to the canal and discuss the walking bridge over Crosswicks Creek and the sand and gravel quarry work at what is today Review View studio. The quarried sand and gravel was used to build the elevated causeway across Hamilton Marsh on the east side of the Canal. Walk led by Pierre Lacombe, retired USGS geologist, pjlacombe25@gmail.com.
Saturday, April 18th 10:00 a.m.
Towpath Walk, Demott Lane to Landing Lane. 4.2 miles roundtrip. Meet at Demott Lane off Easton Avenue, Franklin Township. (GPS 1289 Easton Avenue, Somerset NJ 08873). Leader: Tim Roth, timroth@comcast.net, 973-222-0586.
Saturday, May 2nd or 16th:
(date to be determined soon): 3rd Annual Canoe Race. Commemorating the 52nd Anniversary of the D&R Canal State Park! Come join us for a paddling race on the D&R Canal Saturday, May 2nd or 16th, at 10 a.m. Proceeds go to the Canal Watch in support of projects in the park. You can choose from 8-mile or 1-mile race distances. Canoes, kayaks, and SUPs welcome. Race begins and ends at the Turning Basin, Alexander Road in Princeton, NJ. $35. Mandatory pre-Registration and additional details available: https://paddleguru.com/races/DandRCanalPark50thAnniversaryRace; 972-742-1500. (There is a “contact race” button on the page that directs to there as well.) Contact: Alan Lamb, Alan.Lamb3@gmail.com.
Sunday, June 28: 2:00 p.m.
Canal Watch Annual Meeting. Contact: Linda Barth, barthlinda123@aol.com; 908-240-0488.
Sunday, July 26th:
Canal Road Walk and Roll. 10:00-4:00. Canal Road will be closed from East Millstone to Butler Road. Enjoy a day with friends and family along the scenic D&R Canal with no cars!
Sunday, August 30th:
Canal Road Walk and Roll. 10:00-4:00. Canal Road will be closed from Griggstown Causeway to Route 518 in Rocky Hill. Enjoy a day with friends and family along the scenic D&R Canal with no cars!
Sunday, September 13th:
Canal House Challenge, 10:00-4:00. Five of the historic locktender and bridgetender homes will be open to the public. Pick up a passport at your first stop and have it stamped. If you visit all five buildings in one day, you will receive a small prize. Visitors will be invited to tour the homes in East Millstone, Blackwells Mills, Griggstown, Kingston, and Port Mercer (addresses will be provided in the August newsletter). The friends group in charge of each home will welcome visitors and provide a tour and history of the building.
Saturday-Sunday, October 10th-11th:
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday; noon to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. Somerset County’s Journey Through the Past. Canal Watch members will open the East Millstone bridgetender’s home and station (and the historic outhouse, for observation only). Bob Barth, 201-401-3121, bbarth321@aol.com. (To see the many other historic sites that will be open, Google “Journey Through the Past, Somerset County, NJ.”)
Sunday, October 18th:
10:00 a.m. Bike Ride on the Feeder Canal. Starting and ending point for this round-trip ride to be determined. Helmet required. SAVE THE DATE. Tim Roth, timroth@comcast.net, 973-222-0586.
Saturday, October 24th:
Geology hike, 10:00 a.m. Meet at Prallsville Mills, Route 29, Stockton. During this geology walk, participants will learn about the four geologic units of the Newark Basin along the D&R Canal. Walk led by Pierre Lacombe, retired USGS geologist, pjlacombe25@gmail.com